Joanne and Bruno Win Top Prizes at Pair Go

The 38th British Pair Go Championships was held as the last few years at the Red Lion in Hatfield, who always make us welcome and sell a good lunch. 16 pairs played, split as usual into two sections, and it was again pleasing to see so many young players in the handicap group. To select the top Championship group it looked like the three pairs at 3.5 kyu would have to be split, but in the end the pair of Andrew Simons and Yansai Noeysoongnoen sadly had to withdraw because of illness.

The battle for first place was then expected to be between three former champion pairs and a pair of strong Chinese from London. However Alison and Simon Bexfield beat Kirsty Healey and Matthew Macfadyen, and then beat Xiao Yu Gong and Ho Yeung Woo to reach the final. Joanne Leung and Bruno Poltronieri beat Natasha Regan and Matthew Cocke, to also reach the final. After a tough game, it was Joanne and Bruno who became the champions for the second time. They also won the best-dressed pair prize and also the pair quiz prize, scoring 30/60 in the media studies film quiz.

The final of the Handicap group was between young Zoe Walters playing with Paul Smith and a pair of youngsters, Hilary Bexfield and Edmund Smith. After another tough game it was the son who beat the father (with help from their partners) to make Hilary and Edmund the champions.

Thanks to the Japanese Pair Go Association, there were prizes for all, including the fighting spirit prizes that went to Ingrid Jendrzejewski and Alex Selby, and Lizzy Pollitt and Rowan Borrow. Best-dressed juniors were Amy Upton and Rohan Neelala. Finally the sun came out for the traditional group photo, that has only once been abandoned due to rain.

Results